Archive for June 9th, 2008

Ban on Simi Continues

Ban Karnataka Government in an affidavit submitted to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal has supported the ban on Students Islamic Movement of India, by claiming that its members have been involved in terrorist and destructive activities and in constant contact with militant outfits being operated from outside the country.   Terrorist Outfit Simi was outlawed by the Indian government after 9/11. According to the Indian security agencies it has continually remained involved in destructive and terrorist activities. According to the intelligent sources its activists directly and indirectly are involved in many incidents of bomb blast triggered all over India. It has been also revealed that it is in covert connection of many of the International militant organizations and some outside elements have entered into this outfit that have completely transformed it into a terrorist organization based on religious ideologies.   Foundation SIMI was founded in Aligarh in the state of Utter Pradesh by a scholar named Mohammed Ahmadullah siddiqe on April 26, 1977. SIMI was founded with the aim of educating and enlightening the Muslim community. It was mainly an educational type of ‘Student Body’ organization with the main purpose of study Islam and then spread awareness about the religion among students through lectures.One of the clauses is that no one remains its member after the age of 30 years. Ideology It was the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) that was against un-Islamic streams of thoughts as Hindu ideology and the western values. Its aim was to counter western values and moral degeneration of the moral values. Later on it deviated from its main ideology and steadily progressed into a terrorist organization that happened because of its adoption on of extremist and militant approach on various issues related to the Muslim community. Its Any US demonstrations and glorification of Al Queda chief Osama bin Laden as a ‘true Mujahid’ prompted the Indian government to impose a ban on it. The Simi founded in 1977 was very different from the today’s SIMI. It could have benefited its community a lot by remaining stuck to its initial ideology. Its links with any India organigations have created problems for the innocent people as well as for the nation .Another movement lead by scholarly wisdom can only save the community and the youth from being misled.  

Dalits

Victims In two separate incidents two dalits were killed one in two districts Patiala and Moga of Punjab. In both the Incidents the killers were the influential persons of their villages. In one case the victim had objected the derogatory remarks made against his wife by some persons that led to his murder and the second one was politically motivated. Caste System These incidents are not simple murders done because of personal reasons. But they are the examples of the caste oppression that is prevalent even today. According to the Indian caste system society is divided into four castes: Brahmins (Priests), kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (traders and farmers) and Shudras (servants).Every caste has its own traditional occupations. Shudras are divided into many sub castes that are based on their occupations. According to their occupation they are called with many names as Dalits, harijans, chamars, churas etc.    Occupation According to the caste system the Dalits mostly do menial jobs. As their occupations mostly  includes the menial works such as  leather-working, carcass handling, landless farmers, night soil scavengers and many others, they are considered to be polluted by touch and even by sight to others. As they mostly are uneducated, live apart in separate colonies from the other castes’ residents, they are not aware of their rights, always have been exploited by the upper castes and are discriminated. They always have been discriminated by upper classes because they are considered to be a separate race. Movements Dalits or untouchable are present in every religion in India. Many movements and campaigns were launched against untouchability. Many individuals worked for the emancipation of Dalits. Though casteism is not recognized in Sikhism but the practice is still prevalent in the followers of the religion. Different Sikh Dalits are Ramdasia Sikhs, Mazhabi Sikhs etc. Weakening With the development of the economy a large number of new occupations have emerged, that has weakened the specific association between the caste and the occupation. Education, new economic zones, urbanization and trend of intercaste marriages are the forces that have further weakened the caste system. But political parties, reservation are some other factors that were made for the betterment of the lowest section of the society but have adversely affected the Indian society.